The Dancing Bear Tribe

It wasn't easy for me to decide on a topic for my first Bear Blog so I left it up to my facebook friends list to decide. "Is there any specific topics y'all want to hear my perspective on?! I'm getting so ready to dive into this "Bear Blog" on our new The Dancing Bear Tribe website!" I sent this out into the reality that is Facebook and a good friend of mine Jay Williams requested that I shed some knowledge on "Following your passion/intuition." Here I am now. Thank you for your suggestion Jay. Jay is the founder of The LionHeart Agency; a Non-Profit Agency that helps with Graphic Design, Web Development, Photography, Marketing, Consulting, and Coaching. Now that you know how we get here, lets dive in to the topic of discussion.

As we transition into 2018 there is an abundance of emphasis on dream chasing that is swirling around in the atmosphere. I have observed in the 22 years that i've participated in this human thing that a new year will ignite the spark in many to pick up where they left off in their pursuits to turn dreams into realities, follow passions, and align with inner guidance also known as intuition. But why does it take a new year to commit to getting the work done? When and why do we lose track of following these passions of ours? The question is rhetorical, I could answer for the mass collective but I prefer not to. This leads me to the part of this blog where I take you all on a journey into my psyche and we delve into the perceptions I hold in regards to the prior ideas.

I am currently living this life in a state that I would describe as "healthy detachment." With this being said, when one resides in a detached mindset they shed what I could refer to as the "follower archetype." What I mean by this is that the desire to follow and arrive no longer dwells within me. While I believe this archetype to be undeniably a part of the human nature, I have made a conscious decision to put this part and parcel of self down for a nap. Why do I choose to live life this way? I have discovered from years of exploration that while living in a follower paradigm I become less and less of the authentic self and more like the subject of the following. To me, the authentic self is the true creator being, the one that is free, the everything and nothing at the same time.

I have passion for many joys in this life; Performing arts, sewing, fashion, music, health, business, traveling, nature... The relationship between said passions and I is one of trust and alignment. This is why there is no need to follow or arrive at these joys. Time and again life has shown that the arts come to me in harmony always at the right timing and place. So in a sense one could say that rather than following my passions I allow passion to follow me. How do I do this? Detachment. Living in detachment allows you to exist as a clear channel for passion and creativity to flow and grow through. Its a state of existense free of blockages and resistance. I have taken the back seat and given the keys to creation to drive me where my energy is needed.

As far as Intuiton, you know how I feel about following, I listen and I get to work.

<3 Sarah Bear

12/20/2017 First Bear Blog!

As performers, there's always something to be learning to add to our repertoire. That's why we spend time learning from others as well as preparing tutorials and hosting workshops to share our knowledge with all who are willing and able. For Knee to waist/chest hooping, click Here. For a double hoop move called the "Start Up Propeller" click Here. I hope you are able to learn from these videos! Happy Hooping <3 Rinspins

1/16/2018 How Hooping Saved Me

When I was 17 years old I saw someone hoop dancing for the first time ever, I didn't think much of it I just knew I wanted to do what she was doing. The next day, I bought a children’s hoop and began to play around. In the beginning I guess the dedication wasn't there so after one summer of trying out this art form I gave up. It wasn't until 2013 that I decided to give hooping another go.

It was my freshmen year of college and I enjoyed my hoop because in a very social environment that a freshmen at a university experiences I liked to get away from it because I was shy. My hoop was there for those moments where I didn't want to engage in the current social situation so I'd go off to the side and hoop. People didn't understand my fascination with hoops especially in the small town of Warrensburg MO where only my good friend Natalie and I played with circles so they left me alone when I hooped and my hoop saved me from situation where I lacked confidence. My hoop kept me comfortable. That November I became very sick with what's called pleurisy (an inflammation of the lining of the lungs). This illness was the worst thing to happen to me. I couldn't catch my breath, I had constant heart burn, my back hurt, it felt like I had a ton of bricks on my chest, and worst of all it slowed me down with my hooping. After about a month I became sad. I broke up with my boyfriend at the time, I stopped talking to my friends, and I left the college dorms to live with my sister for a few weeks. My illness, along with the social environments I kept finding myself in put me into a state of depression. Wanting to hoop but not being able to was one of the hardest parts. I began to play around with some slow arm movements called isolations and many variations of isolations because I couldn't keep up with anything else. I even have a video from December 8th, 2013 when I learned isolations. This was the day before Natalie died. Natalie was my only hooping friend. She encouraged me, she gave me awesome tips, she already had developed her own flow and I hadn't so she kind of gave me the tips and suggestions I needed to develop my own flow. When Natalie died I lost my mind. My only flow friend, gone. She was the only one who shared the same love for circles. She was older, very smart, and had a beautiful hoop flow, we had some classes together and I always looked up to her. She was my older sisters best friend and she was my entire hoop influence. After the car accident when she lost her life I began to push myself, those isolations developed into pretty transitions and with that my flow developed. I was still sick and sad but I let my boyfriend at the time back into my life and his positivity rubbed off on me in such an amazing way. I began to look at the whole experience; being sick and Natalie dying and this amazing hoop as a learning experience. Everything was a glass-half-full outlook. After three months with pleurisy I suddenly became better and didn't even realize it, I was just better all the sudden. Finally, I was happy and healthy, I had a wonderful partner who helped me along the way and I have Natalie to keep me grateful and cherish all the moments I experience in my life. When Natalie died I found my flow. I believe that she gave it to me. She keeps me going and encourages me to push myself harder than ever. I never knew what passion was in a hobby or art until the hoop found me. I love my circles and when I'm playing with it I lose myself, it's like a drug and I'm addicted. When I’m into my flow I have a sense of euphoria. It's quite beautiful. My hoop no longer works as a way to get out of social situations though. My skills have grown so now so it really draws people towards me. It's a conversation starter and it gives me confidence because people find it interesting and want to know about 'the girl with the hoop'. My hoop has made me more friends than ever and has brought people together that would have never otherwise been brought together. I am married to the flow now. I know now that every milestone in my life will include my circles. I've hiked mountains with my hoop, I've brought them to parties, there were even hoops at Natalie's funeral. When I get married I will hoop at my reception and When my kids graduate high school I will hoop at their grad party. I am head over heels for this amazing object. This circle has pushed me to do amazing things and I couldn't thank Natalie, my experience with pleurisy, the first girl I saw hooping back in 2012, my boyfriend at the time, and many other hoopers more for the life my hoop has given me.